Leg and caster construction for portable cooler cabinets



Oct. 8, 1963 H. 1.. BUFFINGT ON 3,

LEG AND CASTER CONSTRUCTION FOR PORTABLE COOLER CABINETS Filed June 28, 1961 & 30

Herman L. Buffing/on I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent() 3,106,434 LEG AND CASTER CONSTRUCTION FOR PORTABLE COOLER CABINETS Herman L. Buflingtou, P.O. Box 1981, Spartanburg, S.C. Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,316 14 Claims. (Cl. 312-255) This invention comprises a novel and useful leg and caster construction for portable cooler cabinets and more particularly pertains to a leg construction whereby the leg may be secured to the cooler cabinet in a tilted position from the vertical and yet may have flat load-supporting surfaces provided at the upper and lower ends thereof for respective engagement with the cabinet and a supporting caster.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved leg construction especially adapted for use with portable cooler cabinets which shall be of light weight, sturdy construction, may be firmly secured to the bottom of the article to be supported thereby so that although the leg is positioned in a tilted or vertically inclined position, it may have a flat horizontal load bearing engagement with the bottom of the article supported and with a caster at its other end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular sheet metal leg having upper and lowermounting means applied to the opposite ends thereof in such a manner as to afford convenient support and load bearing engagement with associated elements with which the leg is used and which Will also serve to rigidify, reinforce and strengthen the tubular metal at the ends of the leg.

More specifically, it is a further object of the invention to provide a tubular metallic leg construction having provision therein for receiving the spindle of a caster wheel such that the spindle may be supported in a vertical position and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

Yet another specific object is to provide a metallic tubular leg for cabinets and other articles fabricated to provide a lower end having a thickened wall whereby the caster sleeve and pintle receiving bore may be formed therein in inclined relation to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:'

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portable cooler cabinet incorporating the improved leg construction of this invention;

invention.

3,106,434 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 Indicated in the accompanying drawing is a portable cooler cabinet 10 which is adapted to be supported by legs 12 having conventional caster assembly 14 on the lower end thereof, there being provided cross braces 16 to rigidify the leg assemblies. As will be seen from FIGURE 1, and as emphasized in FIGURE 2, the vertically elongated legs 12 have their longitudinal axes inclined with respect to the vertical and it is desired to provide a leg construction isufliciently sturdy to enable the same to be made economically of relatively inexpensive material such as sheet metal and yet to have sufficient load supporting ability therefor.

Turning now to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the leg and caster assembly 12 comprises a sheet metal tubular leg having open top and bottom ends and having its upper portion of cylindrical shape as at 18, while its lower portion is conical and downwardly convergent as indicated at 20. Upper and lower mounting mean-s indicated generally by the numerals 22 and 24, respectively, are secured to the upper and lower ends of the legs upon the portions 18 and 20 to form load-bearing elements for the leg as set forth hereinafter.

Referring first to the upper mounting means 22, it will be observed from a consideration of FIGURE 2 in connection with FIGURE 3, that this means consists of a flat plate or plate-like member 26 whose top surface provides a flat load supporting surface 28 adapted to engage the horizontal surface of the underside of the cabinet 10 in a manner suggested by the reference line 30 in FIGURE 2. The plate 28 is provided with a plurality of apertures 3-2 therethrough for the purpose of receiving fastening bolts by means of which this plate and thus the upper mounting means may be fixedly but removably secured to the underside of the cabinet 10 for load sup porting engagement therewith.

Integrally formed with and depending from the plate 26 is a cylindrical skirt or sleeve 36. It will be observed that the lower edge of this sleeve lies in a plane which is inclined with respect to the top face '28 thereof, so that the central longitudinal axis through the sleeve is likewise inclined to the vertical to the same extent that the longitudinal axis of the leg and caster assembly 12 is inclined to the vertical. This sleeve receives therein the open upper end of the portion 18 of the leg, and the sleeve is of suflicient axial extent to receive a suflicient t and 42. The lower edge of this insert annulus is preferably beveled as at 44 to facilitate its insertion into the interior of the upper ends 18 .of the leg 12 so that by driving this annulus into the upper end of the leg when the latter is secured in the sleeve 36, the leg will be rigidly expanded, and compressibly clamped to the sleeve.

The ring thus serves both to lock the leg to the sleeve and also to rigidity and strengthen and reinforce the upper end of the leg. As will be noted, this ring member or insert 38 lies substantially entirely within the confines of the sleeve 36.

Referring next to the lower mounting means 24, it will be noted that this includes a fiat plate 50 having fiat top and bottom surfaces as at 52 and 54. The previously mentioned cross braces 66 may rest upon the top surface 52 while the bottom surface which constitutes a load bearing surface and which is parallel to the upper load bearing surface 28 of the upper mounting means 22, is adapted to rest upon a shoulder portion of a caster wheel indicated generally by the numeral 56 and which is of a conventional construction. This caster wheel has a spindle or stem as at 58 which is adapted to be received within the interior of the hollow lower portion 2%) of the leg 12.

It is desired that the spindle 58 shall be maintained and positioned in the leg in a vertical position so as to obtain the maximum utility and performance from the conventional caster wheel. For this purpose there is provided a steel sleeve or liner 60 which is received within the open lower end of the leg 12 and which also extends through an opening 62 formed in the plate 50 in registration with the open lower end of the tubular leg. The liner 6% is rigidly secured to both the lower portion 24) of the leg 12 and to the plate 50 as by welding or the like so as to form a rigid assembly therewith.

Consequently, in the leg construction as described and shown in FIGURE 2, although the axis of the leg is inclined to the vertical, a conventional caster wheel may have its spindle 58 disposed vertically in and secured in the liner 60 of the leg.

Set forth in the foregoing specification and in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings is a form of the invention which is quite satisfactory for certain purposes. However, FIG- URE 4 discloses a modification which in general is regarded as the preferred embodiment of leg and caster construction in accordance with the principles of this invention.

In FIGURE 4 there is illustrated the lower portion of the preferred form of leg and caster construction. The lower portion of a metallic hollow leg 70 having an axial passage 72 therethrough is shown, the wall of the leg having its lower end considerably thickened as indicated at 74. The desired thickening of the leg wall is effected preferably during the fabricating of the leg, as by a drawing operation, for example. As in the preceding embodiment, the leg lower portion may be tapered or appropriately contoured.

Formed in the lower end of the leg is a cylindrical bore 76 whose axis is inclined sufiiciently to the longitudinal passage 72 so that this bore axis may be vertical when the leg axis is inclined in the same relative arrangement shown in FIGURE 2. The thickened wall 74 surrounding the bore 76 provides ample material and strength to receive the usual bearing sleeve or liner 78 and pintle 80 of a conventional caster 82. As will be further noted, the leg wall at the upper end of the bore 76 is cut away or terminates in a recess 84 providing ample clearance for the upper end of the bearing sleeve 78 or the caster pintle 30.

This form of the invention is more economical in that it eliminates the necessity for the mounting bracket 50 of the embodiment of FIGURE 2. It is to be understood that the upper portion of the leg '70 may be of the construction shown at the upper end of the leg of FIGURE 2.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, and to some extent in the embodiment of FIGURES l-3, the shelf or tray supporting bracket construction 16 may be omitted. Fur- .thcr, it will be appreciated that the improved leg and caster construction set forth 'hereinbefore may be used in combination with each other or with conventional legs.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A 1% d Caster construction for portable cooler cabinets comprising an elongated vertically inclined leg having upper and lower portions extending from a midportion to the upper and lower ends respectively of said leg, upper and lower mounting means respectively secured to said upper and lower ends, said lower portion being conical and downwardly convergent, said upper portion comprising at said upper end a relatively thin walled and expansible tube open at its upper end, upper and lower mounting means secured respectively to said upper and lower ends, said mounting means terminating at their ends remote from each other in flat surfaces lying in parallel planes inclined to the longitudinal axis of said leg whereby when said surfaces lie in substantially horizontal planes in load bearing position the axis of said leg will be tilted from the vertical, said upper mounting means comprising a body having a bore therethrough receiving and embracing said open-ended tube, retaining means in said tube engaging and radially expanding said thin wall into fixed engagement with the wall of said body whereby to secure said leg at said upper portion to said upper mounting means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a rigid metal ring of less outside dimension than the internal size of said bore whereby said ring may be inserted through one end of said bore and into the open end of said tube, said ring being compressively engaged and embraced by said tube.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper mounting means body comprises a plate constituting a mounting flange and having on its top said flat surface and further having a depending cylindrical sleeve containing said bore, the axis of said sleeve coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said leg.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a cylindrical insert sleeve whose opposite ends lie in acutely inclined planes and are disposed within said bore.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said leg comprises a unitary tubular member open at both ends.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower portion has an opening in its lower end with an axis coinciding with that of said leg, said lower mounting means including a plate having an opening therethrough which is coextensive with and registers with said lower portion opening, a liner fixedly mounted in said lower portion opening and having an axis which is perpendicular to said plate and inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises an insert of a size to enable its insertion into the bore through the open upper end of the latter, said insert being compressively engaged in the open upper end of said tube and radially expanding the latter.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said insert comprises a cylinder whose opposite ends lie in acutely inclined planes and within said sleeve.

9. The combination of claim 4 wherein one of said opposite ends is flush with and lies in the same plane with the open end of said tube.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the other of said opposite ends lies in a plane parallel to that of said upper mounting means surface.

11. The combination of claim 6 wherein said liner is rigidly secured at its upper end to said lower portion and has an open lower end registering with said plate opening, said liner being fixedly secured to said plate.

12. A leg and caster construction for portable cooler cabinets and the like comprising a vertically elongated hollow leg having a longitudinal axis which is tilted relative to the vertical, said leg having a smoothly and downwardly narrowing lower portion with a bore opening upwardly therein from its lower end, said bore having a longitudinal axis which coincides with that of said leg, a bearing sleeve having a vertical axis and secured in said bore, the upper and lower ends of said sleeve being fixedly secured to a wall of said bore and to the lower end of said leg respec- 5 tively, a caster having a pintle received in said sleeve and extending through said sleeve into said bore, the wall of said lower portion being substantially thickened at its lower end, said thickened Well being recessed to provide clearance for receiving the upper end of said sleeve and pintle.

13. The combination of claim -12 including a flat mounting plate fixedly secured to the lower end of said leg and disposed horizontally when said leg is in a tilted and load bearing position, said plate having an opening therethrou gh which is coextensive with and registers with the open lower end of said bore, said pintle extending through said plate opening.

14. The combination of claim' 13 wherein said insert sleeve has its lower end extending into said plate opening and is substantially flush with the bottom surface of said plate, said sleeve being fixedly secured to said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A LEG AND CASTER CONSTRUCTION FOR PORTABLE COOLER CABINETS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED VERTICALLY INCLINED LEG HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM A MIDPORTION TO THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID LEG, UPPER AND LOWER MOUNTING MEANS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, SAID LOWER PORTION BEING CONICAL AND DOWNWARDLY CONVERGENT, SAID UPPER PORTION COMPRISING AT SAID UPPER END A RELATIVELY THIN WALLED AND EXPANSIBLE TUBE OPEN AT ITS UPPER END, UPPER AND LOWER MOUNTING MEANS SECURED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS TERMINATING AT THEIR ENDS REMOTE FROM EACH OTHER IN FLAT SURFACES LYING IN PARALLEL PLANES INCLINED TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID LEG WHEREBY WHEN SAID SURFACES LIE IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANES IN LOAD BEARING POSITION THE AXIS OF SAID LEG WILL BE TILTED FROM THE VERTICAL, SAID UPPER MOUNTING MEANS COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH RECEIVING AND EMBRACING SAID OPEN-ENDED TUBE, RETAINING MEANS IN SAID TUBE ENGAGING AND RADIALLY EXPANDING SAID THIN WALL INTO FIXED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALL OF SAID BODY WHEREBY TO SECURE SAID LEG AT SAID UPPER PORTION TO SAID UPPER MOUNTING MEANS. 